CELEBRATION: Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ (Holy Easter)

If Christ had not died and risen for us, our faith, our hope and our life would have been in vain, because without the Resurrection, death and sin cannot be overcome, says Father Cleopa Ilia.

What happened at the tomb of the Lord on the Holy night of the Resurrection caused the centurion Longhin, in charge of carrying out the death sentence, together with the soldiers under his command to tremble and be afraid. And finally to shout with unshakable conviction: “Truly, this Man was the Son of God!” (Mark 15, 39), says Saint Luke of Crimea.

All that he saw and heard shook him so much that he received Baptism in a short time and then ended his life with a martyr’s death, because the enemies of Christ – the scribes, the bishops and the Pharisees – did not suffer the fact that the Roman centurion he returned to Christ, they slandered him in front of Pilate, and he ordered his head to be cut off, says Saint Luke.

After the Resurrection, the first appearances of the Savior were made to myrrh-bearing women.

“After Saturday had passed, when it was dawning on the first day of the week (Sunday), Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, because the angel of the Lord, descending from heaven and coming, overthrew the stone and was sitting on top of it. And his appearance was like lightning and his clothing white as snow. And because of his fear those who were guarding trembled and pretended to be dead. And the angel, answering, said to the women: Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for the crucified Jesus. It is not here; for He arose as He said; come and see the place where he lay. And going quickly, tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he will go before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Here I told you.” (Matthew 28, 5-7)

Later, the Lord appeared to two of His disciples, Luke and Cleopas, who were going to Emmaus. (Luke 24, 18)

In the evening, on the day of Holy Easter, He appeared to the eleven, who were gathered together for fear of the Jews, and reassured them, saying: “Peace be with you!”.

And they being afraid, Christ said to them: “Why are you disturbed and why do such thoughts arise in your heart? See My hands and My feet, that I am Myself; feel Me and see, that the spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see Me as having. And saying these things, he showed them his hands and feet. And they still disbelieving with joy and wondering, He said to them: Have you anything to eat here? And they gave him a piece of roasted fish and a honeycomb. And taking, he ate before them. And he said to them: These are the words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about Me in the Law of Moses, in the prophets and in the psalms must be fulfilled”. (Luke 24, 36-45).

He then appeared to more than five hundred brothers (I Corinthians 15, 6), and after eight days, He appeared to His disciples and Thomas. With the doors locked, he confided in Thomas about His Resurrection by placing his hands on the sign of the nails in His hands and in His side. (John 20, 26-29)

The last time the Lord appeared to his disciples on the Mount of Olives, when he ascended to heaven and said to them: “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to all creation: He who believes and is baptized will be saved; and he who does not believe will be condemned.” (Mark 16, 15-16; Luke 24, 47-52; Acts 1,8) (sources: “Sermons at the royal feasts and at the saints over the year”, Archimandrite Cleopa Ilie, 1996; “Sermons at the Triod – At the gates of Lent Great”, Saint Luke of the Crimea, 2004 – https://archive.org

Source: AGERPRES